Well, being an "Airbus lover" myself, I say it's terrific news. I have always been a great fan of the 737 and I think it's a well deserved succes.

To answer your question, Michael, I think (and it's a guess, since I don't have my Production List to hand), it's 1996.

However, I'm curious as to how long it will take Boeing to reach the 5,000th 737. I think the final number of 737 "Classics" (-100 to -500) was around 3,240. So, this 737 for ATA brings the total number built to 4,740. So, 260 to go, at a production rate of, say, 13 per month . . .

Should we expect the 5,000th to be rolled out in late 2005/early 2006.

I really don't see any reason why Boeing is now trying to build a replacement for the 737-the most successful commercial aircraft in history. This is just another milestone of the many that the 737 has set.

The first 737NG rolled off the production line in Renton, not Everett, in Dec 1996 and flew in Feb 1997.

Here's an interesting little fact about the 737NG family. It took six and a half years for 737NG production to reach 1500. It took the 737-300/400/500 ten years to reach this milestone and thirteen years for the A320 family.